Hey there!
I just bought two small male rats from a pet store three days ago. Since I got them, they won't stop sneezing. One, I remember, was sneezing a couple of times when I held him before I bought them. I didn't think anything of it since I've never owned a rat before. I had them in pine bedding for a couple days in an aquarium. After doing a bit of research, I learned that pine bedding is BAD and aquariums are BAD. So I removed the pine bedding and put in an old tshirt instead. I was hoping that after I removed the pine bedding, they wouldn't be sneezing as much. It has, however, only been a day, but they are still sneezing. And I'm getting worried.
Does anybody have any advice for me? Is it allergies? Nervousness in a new environment? Respiratory infection?
One doesn't seem to have much energy and doesn't sneeze as much as the other one. The other one is full of energy and can't seem to stop sneezing when I get him out to play with him. They don't seem to have any leaking from their eyes or noses. They do lick their paws and wipe their faces/noses quite often though...
Help would be greatly appreciated for this new rat owner!!!
-Lauren
I just bought two small male rats from a pet store three days ago. Since I got them, they won't stop sneezing. One, I remember, was sneezing a couple of times when I held him before I bought them. I didn't think anything of it since I've never owned a rat before. I had them in pine bedding for a couple days in an aquarium. After doing a bit of research, I learned that pine bedding is BAD and aquariums are BAD. So I removed the pine bedding and put in an old tshirt instead. I was hoping that after I removed the pine bedding, they wouldn't be sneezing as much. It has, however, only been a day, but they are still sneezing. And I'm getting worried.
Does anybody have any advice for me? Is it allergies? Nervousness in a new environment? Respiratory infection?
One doesn't seem to have much energy and doesn't sneeze as much as the other one. The other one is full of energy and can't seem to stop sneezing when I get him out to play with him. They don't seem to have any leaking from their eyes or noses. They do lick their paws and wipe their faces/noses quite often though...
Help would be greatly appreciated for this new rat owner!!!
-Lauren